US extends visa law for Iraqi war aides

President Barack Obama has approved special visas for Iraqis who risked their lives to help America. Source: AAP

US President Barack Obama has signed into law a measure providing special visas for Iraqis who risked their lives to help the United States.

The special visa has allowed more than 12,000 Iraqi contractors, interpreters and others who aided US efforts, and their family members, to move to the US since 2007.

It expired earlier this week, with about 2000 applications still pending.

In a rare instance of bipartisanship, both chambers of congress passed the measure within hours of each other this week.

The program was created during the worst years of the Iraq war, with Iraqis who helped US forces facing targeted killings and death threats.

The goal was to resettle them in the US faster than the general refugee process might allow.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Irish voters consider scrapping senate

An Irish referendum on a proposal to abolish the country's senate has had a low turnout. Source: AAP

VOTER turnout has been low in an Irish referendum on whether to abolish the country's upper house of parliament.

As polling stations closed at 10pm on Friday - with counting due to start on Saturday morning - the percentage of those casting their ballots was estimated to be less than 40 per cent.

An electorate of 3.1 million were eligible to have their say.

Latest opinion polls suggested a majority of voters would back Prime Minister Enda Kenny's call to get rid of the Seanad, or senate, in a historic move that would hand power exclusively to the lower house.

A poll in the Irish Times on Monday put the Yes vote - in favour of abolition - at 62 per cent, with 38 per cent backing the retention of the upper house, after excluding those who were undecided.

But more than a fifth of the electorate were undecided at the start of the week, while another 8 per cent said they did not intend to go to the ballot box.

Results in the referendum are expected by around mid-afternoon on Saturday.

The Taoiseach says abolition would create a leaner, more effective and more accountable system.

Opponents, led by the largest opposition party Fianna Fail, say the Seanad is necessary to serve as a government watchdog and to hold the ruling cabinet ministers to account.

The Irish parliament, the Oireachtas, is currently made up of the lower house, the Dail, from which government operates, and the upper house, the Seanad.

The senate has 60 members, with most elected from vocational panels by local councillors and by university graduates.

Eleven are appointed by the prime minister, generally ensuring a government majority.

It is not the first time the Irish have toyed with abolishing their upper house.

Eamon de Valera gave it the chop in 1936 when he was prime minister, before bringing it back a year later.

Historically, many senators tend to be politicians who failed to gain election in a general election or those hoping to win a seat in the lower house at a future election.

The upper house is the less powerful house of parliament, often reduced to rubber-stamping legislation from the lower house.

Its ability to delay bills passed by the lower house for 90 days is its most powerful function, but that has only occurred twice in 75 years.

Comparable upper houses have been abolished in New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden.

Irish voters are also being asked whether the state should set up a Court of Appeal.

Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have all backed the court proposal, which could result in more basic appeals from the High Court going to the Court of Appeal instead of the Supreme Court.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gunmen kill 15 Libyan soldiers

GUNMEN have attacked a Libyan military post southeast of the capital Tripoli, killing 15 soldiers, an official and Libya's state news agency report.

The attackers rode vehicles topped with machine guns, the military official said.

The highway between the towns of Tarhuna and Bani Walid, on which the post was located, was closed immediately after the attack in an attempt to track down the attackers.

The official said the attack took place at Wishtata area, 60 kilometres from the entrance to Bani Walid, early on Saturday.

The town was one of the last strongholds for supporters of Muammar Gaddafi in the country's 2011 civil war, and was besieged again by pro-government militias last year.

More recently, Libya has been hit by a months-long wave of attacks targeting military officers, activists, judges and security agents. Much of the violence is blamed on armed groups with their origins in the anti-Gaddafi rebel movement.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity according to the regulations.

The Libya News Agency said another five soldiers were wounded.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gunman kills NATO service member

A GUNMAN, possibly a private security guard, has shot dead a member of the US-led international coalition in southern Afghanistan before himself being killed, according to NATO.

A coalition statement blamed Saturday's shooting on an "alleged contracted security guard." It did not say if he was an Afghan or foreign national and provided no other details.

It also did not provide the service member's nationality.

"The scene of the incident is secure and the suspected gunman has been killed," the statement said. It added that coalition and "Afghan officials are assessing the incident and more information will be released as appropriate".

The perimeters of many coalition facilities, embassies and international organisations are guarded by Afghan guards contracted from a government agency that provides such services.

Internal security at many facilities is provided by foreign guards contracted from multi-national security corporations.

Last year also saw a spike in "insider attacks" by uniformed Afghans against foreign soldiers and civilians. In some cases, militants have donned Afghan army or police uniforms to attack foreign troops, but a number have been carried out by members of Afghan security forces against their own comrades.

The coalition also said that one of its service members died of a non-battle related injury in the south. It provided no other details.

The two deaths bring the total among foreign forces to 128 so far this year, of which 98 are from the United States.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Planned Qld coal ports in doubt

Plants to build two central Queensland coal ports are in doubt due to a downturn in the coal market. Source: AAP

PLANS to build two central Queensland coal ports are in doubt due to a downturn in the coal market.

However, proponents of the ports, at Dudgeon Point near Mackay and Port Alma at the mouth of the Fitzroy River near Rockhampton, say the plans will go ahead if the market recovers.

Both projects are still seeking government approvals.

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, which is developing Dudgeon Point along with Indian coal giant Adani, says progress is continuing "but at a slower pace".

"The Environmental Impact Statement for the project is currently paused," a statement from the firm said.

"The coal market is down as is the current appetite for investment in infrastructure of this type."

Bulk Ports said they will continue finalising environmental studies as the firm doesn't want to be caught out if the market improves.

The port will have the capacity to export up to 180 million tonnes of coal each year.

Peter MacTaggart of Mitchell Ports, which is developing Port Alma, told News Corp Australia the project won't go ahead until demand increased.

"At the moment our customers are telling us that their priority is cutting costs rather than expanding, and we won't be going ahead until there's the demand for it."

Once completed, up to 22 million tonnes of coal per year would be exported from the port.

Environmental groups are calling on Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to stop all mega-ports along the Queensland coast.

Of particular concern is the Port Alma project as it would be built on the pristine Fitzroy River Delta, the largest estuarine ecosystem feeding into the reef.

"We're calling on the Australian and Queensland governments to work together and rule out this totally unnecessary development once and for all," WWF spokesperson Richard Leck said.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Keysar Trad to launch love poetry book

Muslim community spokesman and polygamy supporter Keysar Trad is releasing a book of love poetry. Source: AAP

OUTSPOKEN Muslim community spokesman Keysar Trad is making a foray into the literary world, releasing a book of love poems.

Mr Trad, who has previously said polygamy should be recognised, will launch his book Forays of the Heart at Glebe, in Sydney's inner-west, on Sunday.

The poems are described as "paeans of unrequited love directed at women other than his wife".

The well-known Australian Muslim said the poetry was written in a "sense of fantastical lyrical compulsion".

"I felt the need to share them so that others can benefit from these journeys," Mr Trad said.

The book is due to be launched by Liberal MP Philip Ruddock.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

GrainCorp decision due in December

The government will decide on the takeover of Australia's largest grain handler by December 17. Source: AAP

TREASURER Joe Hockey has given the new federal government more time to consider the implications of a takeover of Australia's largest grains handler, GrainCorp.

A decision on a $3.4 billion offer from US grain giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) will now be made by December 17, Mr Hockey said.

"Given the size of this transaction and the complex nature of the issues involved, I have decided to extend the statutory time period," he said.

"This will allow sufficient time for the new government to carefully consider all the relevant issues and advice from the Foreign Investment Review Board before making a decision."

The Nationals are opposed to the sale, as it would mean ADM, Cargill and Glencore would control almost 60 per cent of Australia's wheat shipments and put most of the nation's grain export infrastructure in foreign hands.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in June it would not oppose the $3.4 billion takeover.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

PR guru Clifford denies child sex charges

CELEBRITY British publicist Max Clifford says his "nightmare continues" after appearing in a London court to deny a string of historical indecent assaults.

The 70-year-old faces 11 counts relating to seven alleged female victims between 1966 and 1984.

Clifford denied all charges. Speaking outside Southwark Crown Court after the hearing, Clifford repeated that he was innocent.

"The nightmare continues, it has done since last December," he said.

"It is a nightmare for myself and everyone close to me. I am totally innocent.

"Next March (the date of Clifford's trial), as long as the truth comes out, it will be fine and I can get back to a normal life."

Clifford, famed for representing celebrities including Simon Cowell and Jade Goody, spoke only to confirm his name and to enter not-guilty pleas to the charges during the 40-minute hearing.

He was released on bail until his trial next March, which is expected to last for up to five weeks.

Clifford, who was arrested last December and charged in April, was released on conditional bail and told he must live at his home address.

Judge Anthony Leonard told Clifford that he is not allowed to contact prosecution witnesses.

"I'm OK," Clifford told reporters before heading into court for the hearing.

"Obviously I am totally innocent of these charges from seven ladies."

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Leighton's King denies knowing of bribes

Former Leighton Holdings boss Wal King denied knowledge of the company's alleged corruption in Iraq. Source: AAP

FORMER Leighton Holdings boss Wal King has denied he had knowledge of the construction giant's allegedly corrupt dealings in Iraq.

Fairfax Media has reported senior Leighton executives, including Mr King, were aware of alleged kickbacks paid to a Monaco firm with close ties to Iraqi officials that awarded the company a $750 million oil pipeline contract.

The allegations caused Leighton shares to suffer their heaviest one-day fall in more than two years, losing $2.04, or 10.4 per cent, to $17.54.

The fall wiped almost $700 million from the company's market value.

But Mr King has denied the claim, and says he is seeking legal advice.

"I deny the allegations that I had any prior knowledge of circumstances in Iraq," he told ABC Radio.

Corruption allegations involving Leighton are not new.

The company referred accusations it paid bribes in Iraq to the Australian Federal Police in November 2011, before making the issue public three months later.

But senior executives had not previously been linked to alleged illegal payments.

In a statement, Leighton said it was still cooperating with the AFP on the ongoing investigation, and wasn't aware of any new allegations or instances of a breach of its code of ethics.

"The directors of Leighton's subsidiary companies and of Leighton Holdings are aware of their responsibilities and have at all times executed their duties with the appropriate care and diligence, and in the best interests of each relevant company," it said.

Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt criticised the AFP over the length of time its investigation has taken.

In response, the AFP said the Leighton investigation remained a priority, but the process of investigating claims of foreign bribery was a complex and lengthy one.

Leighton sacked a senior executive in July 2012 after its own investigation into the alleged breach of its code of ethics in Iraq.

The company has also launched court action against a former employee to recover $5.6 million for alleged breaches of contractual and fiduciary duties relating to the construction of a barge in Indonesia.

It says it has since changed its management structure and tender process.

"That Leighton self-reported the matter which is the subject of the AFP's investigation ... is evidence of the culture of integrity and openness that has been established across the Leighton Group," the company said.

"The company is focused on ensuring that its values are consistently applied across the Leighton Group and any deviation from those values will not be tolerated."

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Gambia pulls out of Commonwealth

THE Gambia has pulled out of the Commonwealth of Nations, accusing the organisation of "colonialism".

"The government has withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth. The Gambia will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism," the government said in statement delivered on national television late on Wednesday.

The move marks the first African departure from the group in 10 years. Zimbabwe withdrew its membership in 2003.

The Gambia joined the 54-strong association, mostly made up of former British colonies, in 1965, shortly after gaining independence.

The move is designed to "further cut ties with Britain", regional political analyst Abdou Aine told DPA from Dakar.

According to Gambian government figures, about half of the 100,000 tourists who holiday on the country's sandy shores each year are British.

Despite ongoing reports of human rights violations and limited freedom of the press, the Gambian government has invested heavily in tourism.

Foreign holiday-makers account for about a fifth of the tiny country's economy.

President Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, is known for announcing controversial plans and ideas without warning.

Last year, the 48-year-old leader used a national address during a Muslim holiday to announce plans to execute death row inmates. The decision was widely condemned by rights groups and members of the international community, including the British government.

In 2007, Jammeh claimed he could cure HIV and Aids through herbal treatment that requires patients to abandon anti-retroviral therapy.

19.19 | 0 komentar | Read More